Recent Increase in U.S. Traffic Deaths Reverses 40-Year Trend

For the past 40 years, the grim death toll from crashes on America’s roadways has been on a downward trend. But we hit a major roadblock in 2015 when the number of people lost in crashes jumped 7.2 percent from 2014, the largest percentage increase in 50 years. Preliminary reports for 2016 look even worse. You should know what’s driving this dangerous u-turn in highway safety and how you can better protect yourself and those you care about most.

For decades, auto accidents have trended downward. Road fatalities steadily declined from more than 50,000 annually in the early 70s to just over 30,000 in recent years. Credit goes to many advances in safety, including:

Crashworthy vehicles that better protect those involved in crashes

New technologies like anti-lock braking, vehicle stability controls and self-driving sensors that prevent crashes in the first place

Some safety experts have blamed the increase on more drivers traveling more miles, increase use of cell phones, longer commutes and more road trips, coupled with cheaper gas and lower unemployment, add up to more drivers on the road. Even those not in vehicles are at a higher risk as car-pedestrian and bike fatalities have risen as well.